SECONDNEXUS
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George's Readsemoluments
CNN Hit Back at Trump's 'Phony Emoluments Clause' Claim With a Real Time Fact Check for the Ages
After reversing course on holding the 2020 G-7 summit at his Trump National Doral resort over the weekend, Trump spent time Monday defending the plan and railing against its critics, including gesturing to the gathered media, saying:
"You people with this phony Emoluments Clause'
Which CNN quickly fact-checked with a graphic consisting of the language of the relevant clause in the U.S. Constitution.
As @realDonaldTrump blames democrats for his reversal to host the G7 at his resort, @CNN posts the emoluments cla… https://t.co/Z87XcEygIe— Kyung Lah (@Kyung Lah) 1571678791.0
You can watch below:
Trump just claimed his G-7/Doral pick was OK because Obama got a Netflix & book deal. He claimed these were negotia… https://t.co/E9YPrJye77— jordan (@jordan) 1571678905.0
Trump gripes about no Doral G7: “you people with this phony emoluments clause.” (Fact check: it’s in the constitution)— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1571678714.0
Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution is actually the Title of Nobility Clause. However it is more commonly referred to as the Emoluments Clause.
Today, Donald Trump called the Emoluments clause, which is part of the Constitution, “phony.” The conspiracy agai… https://t.co/9qMas4DU3W— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1571680415.0
It states:
"No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."
It is the last portion of the clause that both captures and eludes the presidency of Donald Trump.
If Donald Trump is just now finding out the Constitution has an emoluments clause, wait til he finds out about the impeachment clause.— Palmer Report (@Palmer Report) 1571687038.0
Captures as in foreign leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky often tell Trump they are spending money at his properties while discussing matters of foreign policy. Foreign governments and banks rented large sections of Trump properties yet failed to use them, raising eyebrows and suspicions.
Eludes as in President Trump appears unfamiliar with the rules of office set forth in the US Constitution. Or that they apply to him and the businesses he still profits from directly despite previous Presidents placing their private enterprises in blind trusts or selling them outright.
It’s come to this — a television network split-screens the president with the words of the Constitution.— Peter Baker (@Peter Baker) 1571678567.0
Trump just called the passage of the United States Constitution that the Founders inserted to stop corruption and p… https://t.co/qexoeI91Uf— Rep. Don Beyer (@Rep. Don Beyer) 1571676916.0
The Title of Nobility Clause, which covers emoluments, was intended to avoid foreign influence on members of the United States government—be they elected, appointed or hired—specifically by foreign governments.
Real Trump quotes just now on G7, via pool: “I own a property in Florida.” “I don’t need promotion. I don’t need p… https://t.co/5ixlq9lB4Y— Eli Stokols (@Eli Stokols) 1571675033.0
As part of his complaints about walking back another opportunity for the Trump Organization to profit from the presidency, the President made false claims against President Barack Obama. Again.
Trump, in the middle of a monologue about how George Washington was also a businessman while in office, cast basele… https://t.co/k1yrOMoHkl— Daniel Dale (@Daniel Dale) 1571678526.0
However the claims Trump made occurred after Obama left office and failed to involve foreign governments, unlike the multiple emoluments accusations against Trump himself.
Re-upping this. If the Doral posed an emoluments problem, as the White House now admits, why isn't it a problem for… https://t.co/gCsskzpSAY— Bill Kristol (@Bill Kristol) 1571575812.0
Please note: The emoluments clause isn't "Phony." The Kurds aren't happy we abandoned them. They are dying. You nev… https://t.co/JoPi4WQtHQ— Brian J. Karem (@Brian J. Karem) 1571687837.0
"You people with your phony Emoluments Clause!" - Donald Trump - Just now to press pool https://t.co/fsrfnVqz3I— Tea Pain (@Tea Pain) 1571675640.0
The Constitution is real. You're the phony, @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/SDHhSN9DNk— Tea Pain (@Tea Pain) 1571687954.0
So Trump is in the clear because the Emoluments Clause isn't real and George Washington had two desks and Obama ink… https://t.co/wa4ZirqUr0— Brian Tyler Cohen (@Brian Tyler Cohen) 1571686979.0
The Trump impeachment inquiry is ongoing. What part constitutional violations such as emoluments will play in the final report remains to be seen.
The book How to Read the US Constitution—and Why is available here.